The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-10-11
THE FRENCH SCANDAL.


General Caffarel Turned Over to the Civil
Authorities for Trial.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
LONDON Oct 10.-The arrest of General Caf-
farel. Mime. Limonsin and others implicated in
the sale of decorations is the leading and grow
ing sensation here as well as in Paris. 1t ap-
pears that General Ferron. Minister of War,
summoned General Caffarel to him Monday
last and questioned him closely as to the truth OF
the information that mad been lodged against him.
General Caffarel, 1t is understood, attempted to
shield himself beh ind general denial, but made
SO lamentable failure that he was at once sus-
pended from his position. This action of the
Minister of War gave the disgraced General
an opportunity to avail himself of the usual rem
edy applied to themselves by Frenchmen in
diser ace-suicide; but, instead of this,
he sought meeting with Nine.
Limonsin. which resulted in his arrest and
further degradation by being transferred from
rhe military to the civil authorities for trial.
Nine. Limonsin, Caffarel's principal accomplice,
though painfully ugly. lame and deformed
woman, is extremely fine linguist and an ex
ceptionally clever conversationaist She has
for long time cultivated the acquaintance of
military officers, and was for several years
especial favorite with General Thibauden, a
former Minister of War. but it does not appear
that she induced that astute warrior to overstep
the bounds Of propriety or honesty in their re-
lations. General Caffarel was appointed Ito the
post Of chief of the staff of the War Depart
ment by General Boulanger during that Generals
occupancy of the War Office
Madame Ratazzi has been arrested for COM
plicty in the sale of decorations by General
Caffarel. It is semi-officially denied that NJ.
Wilson, son-in-law of President Grevy, is in any
way involved in the affair.
In the house of Nine. Limonsn. who
has been arrested in connection with the
Caffarel case. there was discovered about
three hundred letters to M Wilson and
others from NJ. Herbette. Gen. Thibaudin. and
Gen. Boulanger. 1t is believed that if the gov
ernment had known the extent OF the scandal.
Gen. Caffarel would not have been arrested
affair, was ostensby a Eorse-dealer. Ii is sus-
pected that he and Mime. Limonsin obtained and
translated military papers for Germany.
Two letters from General Saussier were found
i, Madame Limousin's appartmentr Gonera.
Saussier has written an explana ton, in which
he says that Madame Limonsin's first husband
shot himself In America, and the Madame then
captivated a major in the French army who ap-
piled to his colonel for leave to marry.
The application was sent to Saussier, the usual
course, for inquiries into the lady's antecedents
The result was the cancelng of the match
Madame Limonsin wrote an indignant letter to
General Saussier, demanding explanation
ne General s orderly wrote an answer ana the
General signed it. Three months later Madame
Linonsin wrote, asking a favor. Her letter
replied to by captain, who. writing over
Saussier's signature, refused her request Gen.
Boulanger admits that the card found in
Madame Limonsin's possession is probably his.
but denies that he wrote thereon: "Dear
Madame: I will be charmed to you at the
War Office tomorrow IL o'clock" Caffarel is
now in prison, prostrated and unable to sleep.
He he is innocent. but his signature
the forged papers discovered in his house clear
ly proves his guilt.